State highway crews preparing to remove illegally placed signs that interfere with mowing and maintenance operations or create safety hazards

JACKSON, Ky. – As personnel from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prepare to remove advertising signs illegally placed on state right of way, officials are pointing out that all such signs will be removed, regardless of what business, product, service or political candidate they promote.

“We have instructed our crews to remove all signs that will interfere with our mowing or maintenance operations, as well as any signs that interfere with sight distance at intersections or other areas,” said Corbett Caudill, chief district engineer for the Department of Highways District 10. “If there are a number of signs improperly placed at one intersection or location, they all will be removed. We will show no favoritism toward anyone.”

District 10 includes the east-central and southeastern Kentucky counties of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell and Wolfe. The May 20 primary election for local political offices has resulted in a large number of signs being illegally placed in the 10-county district.

“It won’t be long before we begin mowing along our state highways,” Caudill said. “Signs that are placed in our mowing zones create a danger for the workers who are doing the mowing. They can also interfere with other maintenance operations such as ditching and shoulder repairs. We would prefer not to have to spend the time removing the signs before we start this work, but because so many people do not obey the law prohibiting the placement of these signs, we have no choice.”

“This is a matter of safety, not only for motorists but for workers who put their lives at risk every day to maintain our roads,” Caudill continued.

Any signs removed will be kept for two weeks at the state highway garage in the county where they were picked up. Sign owners may claim their signs during that period. After two weeks, the signs will be discarded.

In addition to political signs, KYTC personnel will also be removing signs advertising services such as high speed Internet and satellite television, work-at-home opportunities and any other illegal encroachments.